Ghis (closed)

[heartofcourage]

Julia smiled as her husband as he locked the door of the library, leaving them secluded for the evening. She snuggled up against his chest as he placed a pillow beneath her head. She enjoyed little moments like these, with no children to interfere and no one coming to them with pressing business. They could talk about anything they liked and she intended to take full advantage of that.

“We should build a hideaway, love. Like what Durban and Marri have. A little home of our own, away from everyone else that we can retreat to and relax.” She said softly, sighing as his fingers trailed through her hair.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Tha' sounds just about perfect," he chuckled softly. "A place I can 'ave ya all t'myself t'talk... or fer anythin' else." he whispered seductively, "all night whene'er we like, whate'er ya like fer as long as ya want." He then gave her a dark smirk, "As hard as y'like." He chuckled again and kissed her and then behind her ear.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia giggled softly as he kissed behind her ear, teasing her until she let out a breathy moan. “You couldn’t seriously want me again so soon, love.” She murmured softly, kissing him gently as her hand came to rest on his cheek.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I want ya all th'time without fail, darlin'," he growled, worrying at her earlobe as he nibbled it.

They spent all night making love and enjoying one another, and it was sometime past midnight that they finally drifted to sleep. In the morning, Julia awoke wrapped in the blanket still, but now in her bed on Brogan's side. The hearth was burning low, and beside the bed laid a note from Brogan.

It told her how he'd learned that Wick was double-time marching their way toward Inverness, and Brogan was gathering his forces to meet them before they got too close and became a danger to the townspeople. He'd be around til three in the afternoon before he went to join his men, and she'd find him in the town square. He wanted to see her alone before he left.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia was out of bed as soon as she read the note, dressing warmly in a woolen cloak. She left her hair loose, her circlet left behind on her vanity as she went to see Ciaran. The baby was giggling and laughing at his Aunt Marri, the other woman telling her that everything was fine and to go see Brogan. Julia nodded and hurried to the town square, intent on finding her husband before he left for war.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan was perched high above a crowd of people on the edge of a wagon, shouting orders. The crowd consisted of soldiers and their families. Some women bawled uncontrollably, unable to let their husbands or sons go, others said quiet and sad goodbyes. Children and babies cried at the commotion or the leaving of their fathers and brothers.

Brogan bellowed out an order, "Lads, ye've got twenty minutes t'be ready!" The rush ran at double-speed there, but people moved for Julia.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia stood in her spot until the crowd dispersed to make their final goodbyes. She looked up at Brogan and smiled for him, knowing that he needed all the support that she could muster for him. When she made her way towards the wagon, she waited until he hopped down and they were on the same footing once more.

“Did you see Annie and Ciaran this morning?” She asked softly, hoping that he had taken time for the children that morning.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I did," he nodded as he drew her in and kissed her. "Annie's not 'appy with me." Brogan sighed quietly, laying his head on her shoulder. Despite the chaos, he sought a moment of peace with her and he didn't care who saw.

"Let 'er know I love 'er... she was 'eartbroken that I'm leavin', an' she's scared."

 

[heartofcourage]

“I’ll always take care of her, love. I promise.” Julia said softly, holding her husband close as they shared a tender moment in the middle of all the chaos. “I know you’ll come home to us. You have to. Annie needs you. Ciaran needs you. I need you.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll come 'ome," he whispered just loud enough for her to hear. He kept her close, nestled securely and tightly against his muscled frame. He buried his face against her neck and muttered, "I don' want t'leave, Julia... Gods, I don' want t'leave you." He kissed her again, but then a man approached, standing at attention.

"M'keng."

Brogan kept an arm around Julia's waist, "Form up th'lads, get 'em movin'. I'll be bringin' up th' rear later with th' heavier fighters."

"Aye, milord." The man hurried away and Brogan turned to meet Julia's eyes.

"Stay with me a while, love. I know it won' be quality time but... it's time."

With that, Brogan began organizing his own personally-trained force of axe fighters like himself. Julia had seen only a few of these men before, Cole and Ciaran having been among them. These men were massive, anywhere from Boar's size to Durban's, and Boar and Durban were among them too. They were all skilled axemen and claymore-wielders with armored vambraces and only light armor elsewhere. They all carried blue warpaint for loyalty to Scotland and Inverness. They were incredibly fearsome and looked ready to destroy a man with a glance. But Julia knew many of them to be the softest-hearted gentlemen in the town.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia stood by as Brogan gave his soldiers their marching orders. She was scared because she knew that some of these men would not return home to their families. That thought had her heart aching brutally for the families that would weep for their dead. When Brogan was finished, Julia moved from his side and hugged her brother-in-laws tightly, saying her goodbyes to them before she moved back to her husband.

“I want you to take this, love. It’ll give you something to look forward to.” She said softly as she pulled off her wedding ring and pressed it against his palm. “You can return this to me when you return.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Brogan looked down at the ring as it rested in his palm, and he met her eyes, about to tell her he couldn't do that... until he decided on something else. He reached to his neck where he'd always carried a leather cord with his family crest. It was an ancient piece, and he pulled it off and kissed it before pressing it into her own hand. "Then I'll give ya somethin' t'look forward to as well, m'queen." He slipped the ring into a pouch on his belt and drew close once more to lift his hands to her cheeks and kiss her again.

When their lips barely parted, Brogan set his forehead to her own and whispered, "Look fer me on th'west horizon, love... One day soon, ye'll see me comin' 'ome when Inverness is safe." He kissed her again and, even more quietly, he spoke, "My bonny sweet lass..."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Just don’t be gone too long, love.” Julia said softly as she kissed her husband one last time and forced herself to take a step away from him. “I love you, Brogan. I hope that you know that.”

She reached out and placed her hand on his chest, resting over his heart as she fought back the tears that so desperately wanted to escape. She wouldn’t cry. She couldn’t. Not when Brogan needed her to be strong for his kingdom and his children.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I've always known tha', Julia." Brogan set his hand over hers. "Y'can cry, love, I can see th'tears brimmin'. It won' make ya weak."

"M'lord," a man on a horse came behind him. "We've got t'get goin', sir."

"I know..." Brogan sighed, taking his horse's own reins that waited near. He climbed up into the saddle and looked down at Julia once more. "I love you, an' I'll fight fer your honor, m'queen." With that, he and his men with their horses moved out toward and disappeared into the west in minutes, leaving Julia and many families in silent sadness and soul-breaking worry.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia watched until she could no longer see Brogan on the horizon, her tears coming silently as the women and children around her cried in much of the same way. With a heavy heart, she turned and made her way back into the keep, taking Ciaran from Marri and hugging him tightly.

“Annie, love, go and get your cloak. I think it would do us some good to take your brother on a little walk.” Julia said, looking towards her daughter with a sad smile on her face. She wanted the little girl to not think about her Da while he was gone and she knew that she would have to come up with ways to get her thinking about other things.

 

[KieranSoares]

Annie, who had been sitting on the floor in Kitty's parlor and drawing a forest on some paper, quickly shook her head. The girl was afraid of going out on walks now, after their previous experience, but she also seemed to just want to sit and be angry at Brogan. she hated that he was gone from them again so soon, and she didn't feel safe without him and her uncles.

"Annie," Kitty said softly, but Annie just refused silently. Kitty was just as sad as the other women, with Vincenzo and Valentina going with Brogan to tend the wounded.

 

[heartofcourage]

“Oh, little love.” Julia whispered softly, kneeling next to her step daughter as she refused to go, the little girl so angry with her father. “You know that your Da didn’t want to go. He had to because he’s the king and he has to make sure that his people are taken care of and safe.”

She carefully brushed her fingers through her daughter’s black hair, looking down into her eyes intently. “Would you feel better if your aunt’s and cousins went with us? I’ll buy you a sweet down at the market.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"He promised..." Annie muttered, unwilling to meet Julia's eyes. "He promised he'd stay for a long time, he promised he'd start teaching me how to ride today..." And to a little girl who loved horses, that was a hard blow. Being so young, she didn't truly understand what was at stake, and no one could blame her. A broken promise was a broken promise to a child.

 

[heartofcourage]

“I know, love.” She said softly as Ciaran started to fuss, grunting against her neck as he stretched and squirmed. “I know that he promised and he’ll still teach you how to ride when he gets home. I guess I’m just asking that you don’t stay mad at him for very long.”

Julia leaned in and kiss her daughter’s brow, giving him a little smile. “You know who likes horses? Your Aunt Kayla. How about we go with her to the stables?”

 

[KieranSoares]

Annie sniffled a little bit, still angry with Brogan, but she rose with a nod, taking hold of the edge of Julia's skirts as she often did. She kept extremely close, unwilling to stray away or let curiosity sway her.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia rested her head on Annie’s dark hair for a moment before she pulled the little girl from Kitty’s rooms. She was aware that Annie was frightened of what had happened and she was disappointed to see the little girl so scared, but she knew that the sight of the horses and the stables would soon get the little girl excited again.

“Kayla?” Julia called when she saw her sister-in-law in the great hall, talking to Theo who had stayed behind for protection. “Would you like to come with Annie and I to the stables?”

Kayla looked for a brief moment at the little girl and smiled. “I would love to. Theo, you should come along too.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'd like tha', m'lady," Theo nodded with a smile. He looked to Annie and knelt to scoop her up. She'd become extremely close and trustful of him after he'd kept her so safe in Wick and made sure she didn't go hungry. They headed out to the stables where they found Brogan's favourite horse Phearson still there. There was a note nailed to the stall door for Annie.

My sweetheart Annie,

I know I promised to teach you to ride, and I know I'll break your heart when I have to break my promise for the sake of keeping Inverness safe. But I still want you to learn and enjoy yourself. I know how much you love Phearson, so I left him for you so you can find someone to teach you and still have a horse you know. I'm sorry it couldn't be me, love, but have fun and be careful. I love you.

A kiss for my bonny lass (and your Ma too),
Da

 

[heartofcourage]

“See, Annie? Your Da is thinking about you even when he can’t be here.” She said gently, kissing her little forehead as the letter had asked. “Now, I bet if you ask Theo and Kayla sweetly they will help you ride Phearson.”

Julia smiled as Annie did just that, asking the two to help her ride. With the little girl distracted, Julia took the moment to find a seat in the stables, focusing on her son who was squirming and whimper in hunger.

“What now, my heart? Are you hungry?” She asked her dark haired baby as he looked up at her with those wide green eyes. Kissing his little cheek she was soon settled in a warm spot, Ciaran nursing at her breast as she thought back on everything that had happened that day.

She prayed for Brogan, pleading with whoever would listen that he return home safely. She also thought about her brothers-in-law and the families that they had left behind as well.

 

[KieranSoares]

Julia headed Inverness alone for weeks, with only the help of Kitty as no one else knew how to do it but them. It wasn't too stressful with most of the men gone, thereby almost half the population, but it could be difficult at times. Annie eventually forgave Brogan, who had made sure to write to them at least once every two days. In one letter, he'd apologized to her again and she kept that letter close at all times, missing him terribly.

Little Ciaran fussed more often, missing Brogan's warmth and how Brogan could calm him with just a touch. All of the Ghis children became more easily upset with their fathers gone.

After three weeks, some wounded and dead returned to the village, and among the wounded came Boar, who led them. He looked exhausted, hardly able to stay up on his horse's saddle. His arm was tucked into his cloak, the fur covering hiding the damage he'd suffered. Women flooded out to meet them, hoping and praying that if they did see their husbands, sons, or fathers, they'd be only wounded and would make it. A few hearts were shattered that morning when some found their prayers unanswered. Boar was the only Ghis who returned.

 

[heartofcourage]

When word reached her that soldiers had started to return, Julia left her children with their cousins in Kitty’s chambers and she hurried out of the keep. She could see the dead in wagons, women wailing, but the most welcome sight was Boar leading the procession. It gave her hope that at least some of the men had survived.

Emma was running from her home as fast as she could, her hands cradling her swollen belly and she burst into tears the moment that she saw her husband. She couldn’t get her arms around him fast enough, holding him tightly as he’d barely gotten off the saddle.

“Oh, Boar.” She whispered against his ear, trembling as she struggled to hold him as tightly as she possibly could.